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U.S. Fish & Wildlife's Decision to Remove The Pink House

On March 21, 2024, the U.S. Fish & Wildlife (FWS) announced their intention to proceed with their plan to remove The Pink House from the land at 60 Plum Island Turnpike, after declaring that land trade options had been exhausted.  

This announcement came after eight years of Support The Pink House Inc (STPH) working tirelessly to find a solution to save the house - included paying all expenses required by the Fish & Wildlife to prepare the house for trade. Read more here.
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U.S. Fish & Wildlife's new plan is to possibly put the house up for auction so it can be moved away from the property. This is an option which has been proposed since 2015 but is not popular with the community, nor is it very realistic. 

Demolishing the Pink House will result in our community forever losing a beloved iconic landmark. A landmark that brings economic benefits to our area as it attracts visitors, photographers, painters, and other artisans to our local towns. The Pink House is an asset of the United States. Demolishing it is also counter to the FWS's mission to work with others to conserve, protect, and enhance fish, wildlife, and plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. 

UPDATE: As of July 10, 2024, The Pink House has been listed for Auction through the General Services Administration (GSA), and will now be closing as of August 15th, 2024 at 8:00 AM ET.  You can find it HERE. TO date no bidders have registered, and no one has attended the 3 open houses. 

OUR STANCE

It’s inconceivable that a solution has not been accepted by FWS. They have had plenty of time and plenty of options, and we're mystified as to why they couldn't, or wouldn't, allow one to work -- and reap all the benefits to their mission they said it would produce. Their criteria kept changing and becoming more restrictive, eventually making the land trade solution become impossible by their own creation. In the past few months, we have brought them as many as 17 options that seemed to fit their criteria, several of which were seriously considered, but all ended up being rejected. 

As long as the Pink House is still standing, we’re still standing strong!
WE APPRECIATE ALL THE LOVE AND SUPPORT FOR THE HOUSE more than we can say!!  
We're not giving up and we hope you won't either! 

Taking down the house or moving it remains to be a bad idea: 

• ​The evidence of public support to keep the house standing in place and see it restored according to our plan is overwhelming. The people have spoken:  They have called and written to Moulton, Markey and Warren's offices, and given 6,200+ signatures between petition and cards so far. We have 8,000 Social Media Followers and a mailing list growing daily. They are elected to represent and respond to that kind of outpouring but any communications have been met with a singular backing of the Federal Agency their web home pages advertise they are there to help their constituents with. 
• This is an Asset of the United States which has been allowed to fall into disrepair by the agency.
• Neither U.S. Fish & Wildlife's proposal to demo TPH and either put a few benches and plaques with a parking lot or let it return to grass is the best use of a nearly half a million dollar asset, paid for by our tax dollars. When The Pink House is removed, the lot will plummet in value from between $4-500K to approx $40K within 2 years, due to becoming unbuildable.Add the $5K spent on their environmental assessment, and their estimate of $50-90K to demolish the house and that is over half a million dollars of tax payer money wasted, when it could go to further their mission to conserve more useful land. 
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Why is The Pink House Important? 

• CULTURAL ICON - inspiring thousands of artists, photographers, and visitors per year 
• ECONOMIC DRIVER - bringing interest and increasing tourism to the area
• HOUSE HAZARD CONDITION IRRELEVANT - The house CAN be restored by professionals who are fully aware of its condition. STPH's Restoration Partner or any restorer can tackle any issues after the swap including any mold, asbestos, etc. 
• WASTE OF A VALUABLE ASSET - Demolishing the Pink House would result in the FWS forgoing close to $500,000 that could be utilized to save land that truly has highly ecological value and serves the FWS mission (see below).  

What can YOU DO?  KEEP SPEAKING UP & TAKING ACTION
CALL ELECTED OFFICIALS - ASK them to:

• STOP THE DEMO/AUCTION PROCESS NOW
• WORK WITH STPH to solve this efficiently instead of favoring FWS. They represent YOU not FWS. 
• ASK FWS to accept land already offered 
• OR get the Secretary of Interior to declare it surplus, where FWS will still get market value (eliminates the need for swap land)
• OR write a bill ---or be open to the bill STPH's attorneys can provide 
• THIS WILL BE A WIN for ALL -- the elected officials, FWS and the community. 

Let them know their non-response to public outcry is obvious to all. Where is THEIR voice for YOU on this? Are you backing FWS who does not understand how much this means to our state?  Where do you stand? What has changed from your prior support?  Do you want to see the house demolished?
Senator Ed Markey

• Phone: MA: (617) 565-8519    DC:(202) 224-2742
• Email: [email protected], cc: Katherine Morefill - [email protected]v
  
• THANK THEM for still being open to your concerns. Request that Senator Markey ACT to effect the change we know Congress has the power to do. 
  
• Tell them how much this means to businesses and artists, tourism and YOU - and why. 
  
• Tell them the house is NOT too contaminated to restore and that it's NEVER too late for land trade or other options Markey has the ability to enact.
  
  It's important to write and call now as we learned his office realizes they did not look into this more themselves when it was time to. Considering Sen. Markey is the only elected official NOT up for reelection, we give them a lot of credit. BUT THEY NEED TO HEAR FROM YOU IN THESE LAST WEEKS OF THE AUCTION TO KNOW THEY SHOULD DO MORE. 
  Thank you for asking what more you can do. Every little bit is worth it, now more than ever! 

If you haven't already, please SIGN OUR PETITION HERE
Pls. SHARE the petition: Copy/Paste this link into your own social media: https://chng.it/qFY6rMzh8Q.  Email it, text it, DM it! Thanks! 

SUBMIT LETTERS TO THE EDITOR 
WE need A LOT of letters arriving all the time!  Your letters will keep the conversation going, and that is a valuable contribution.

1. Newburyport Daily News: 400-words through their online form at: https://www.newburyportnews.com/site/forms/online_services/letter
2. Boston Globe: 200-word letters should be sent exclusively to the Globe at [email protected], and must include the sender’s name, address, and phone number. They will only contact you (within 10 days max) if they are going to use yours. Please keep trying!
3. Write to any local paper! The further the word goes, the better. We have signatures from people all over New England wanting to keep The Pink House. 

When you talk about TPH, mention FACTS more than sentiment, i.e.:

• You are opposed to the demolition or auction (thus must be moved) and want the Fish & Wildlife Service to accept an offered land swap. The FWS will collect many benefits, and to let STPH’s Partner restore it.
• Businesses benefit from TPH bringing people here from everywhere, who then shop, eat, rent or buy here, especially in the off-season.
• You’re an artist who supplements their income from Pink House art.
• How culture, architecture, history and nature make the area unique and are part of why you live and pay taxes here.
• Your cause earned money through Pink House Art at a fundraiser/charity event. 

VOLUNTEER
Please fill out the Volunteer section on our website contact page! 

SOCIAL MEDIA FOLLOWS, POSTS & SHARES

• Comment on our posts, as well as liking them.
• Post on our social media but also on your own.
• Your own posts reach more, but sharing from others really helps too!

Instagram     Facebook Group     Facebook Page   Twitter

FUNDRAISE:

• Consider doing a Facebook fundraiser or own event for the Pink House. 
• Send a check to Support The Pink House Inc, 61 Pleasant Street, PO Box 131, Newburyport, MA 1950
• Use the Donate Button here on our website 

KEEP UP WITH THE LATEST NEWS  
Read our News Blog regularly on our website.
Join our Newsletter  we do not share your information!

​THANK YOU!

PRESS 

North Shore Magazine Article Nov 2023